Means for operating curtains.



D. M. SARKISIAN.

MEANS FOR OPERATING CURTAINS.

APPLIOATION FILED JUNE 1s, 1910.

978,21 9. Patented Dec. 13, 1910.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DICKRAN M. SARKISIAN, OF MALDEN, MASSACHUSETTS.

MEANS FOR OPERATING CURTAINS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 13, 1910.

Application filed June 13, 1910. Serial No. 566,469.

i useful Improvements in Means for Operating Curtains, of which the following, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a full, clear, and concise description.

My invention relates to curtains and the method and means for operating the same, and the objects of my invention are, among other things, to accomplish the closing or opening of a curtain or a pair of curtains in such a way that the edges next the opening shall remain Aunfolded while the curtain is drawn back, also t0 provide an inexpensive yet etiicient means for accomplishing this purpose.

Referring to the accompanying drawings: Figure l is an elevation showing my improvement and showing the curtain partly closed and partly open. Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail showing the rings and arrange ment of the operating cord. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of one of the rings and a friction eye. Fig. 4 is an elevation of-a traverse ring provided with my improved friction eye. Fig. 5 is a modiiication of the friction eye.

Refer-rino' to Fig. 1, 1- is the curtain; -'-2 a po e; -3 rings surrounding said pole and adapted to travel upon the same; wfan eye, preferably placed at the bottom of the ring and usually made double,

`that is, an eye on each side of the ring;

-5- eyes or other means for supporting the curtain; m6 a cord passing through the various loops in the different rings and frictionally engaging the same; 7 a pulley over which the cord passes; 8*- part of the curtain left unfolded when the curtain has been partially withdrawn; -9- the folded portion of the curtain.

I'Ieretofore in the operation of opening and closing curtains, particularly of the kind described, the cord has been positively secured to the last or central ring, so that when tension is applied to the cord the central ring is drawn along the pole, pushing the other rings bearing the curtain ahead of it, and as a consequence folding up first that portion which is nearest the opening. Now, as a matter of fact, it is this portion of the curtain which is usually thc most ornamented and elaborate, and when the curtain is folded up in the usual Way this ornamented portion is concealed or diminished by the folds. My invention is intended to obviate this objection.

The preferred construction and operation y of my improvement is as follows:

I attach rings -3 at regular intervals along the top of the curtain in the usual way and pass the operating cord (3- through the loops or eyes -4- on the rings in such a Way that a certain amount of friction is imposed upon the cord in its passage through the eyes. The cord is secured at the last of the rings m6%-, that is the one nearest the opening. This Vis a continuous cord, the half of the cord represented by -G- being threaded through the eyes fi-4 of one half of the curtain and the other half of the cord -bpassing through the rings of the opposite curtain, thence passing over a pulley w-T- and back through the corresponding loops or eyes 4fof that half of the curtain, being secured to the last or inside ring on this half as shown at 6u-j thence it is passed through the rings on the first half of the curtain and down through the pulley 7-. The effect of this arrangement is that a pull on tiwill open the curtains and a pull on 6bwill close them. A pull upon -6- which opens the curtain will cause the curtain to be drawn slowly from the door j amb side because of the friction of the operating cord in the eyes -4-, with the result that the rings as the cord is pulled and the curtain drawn will gradually successively group themselves in the manner illustrated in Fig. l. All of the rings move at first simultaneously, but as they approach the wall or oint of su port their progress along the po e is stoppe and they release or permit the operating cord -6- to pass through the eyes -4-. The consequence of this is that the rings are successively brought to rest so long as the cord is pulled and the curtain is free to move. It is evident that this operation may be terminated when the last/two or three rings are still separated as shown in Fig. l, and thus the ornamental border of the curtain will be exposed while the rest is gathered in folds near the point of support. Vhen the cord -Gbis drawn the rings will start and move in inverse succession, that is, the center or edge' ring or i'ings ivill move first, then the seconchand so on successively.

I do not Wish to be limitedV to the particular design, shape, proportion or arrangement of the parts sliovvn, as it is'evident that they may be modified in certain respects Without departing from the essence of my invention, as, for instance, the eye may be made in the forni shown in most of the figures or in that shown in Fig.r 5, or in some other forni, and :it may be either drawn, stamped or otherwise produced. Indeed, I may provide other Ways'or means by which the parts of the curtain `may be successively moved and brought to rest. Moreover, 'l' do not limit myself to a pole or to rings -on"a pole, as I may vemploy a `vvireor other means of support, and Where a pole i-s used hangers or other means may be employed instead of rings.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new herein' and desire yto secure by Letters Patent, is:

il. The combination ofa curtain and rings therefor; friction devices on 'saidfrings, rand an operating cord frictionally engaging said friction devices, saidoperating cord moving against and engaging said friction devices when operated to move the curtain.'

v2. The combination ofk a 'suspendedcun' tain; friction devices lattached to the curtain at intervals; 'an operating cord in frictional'engagement with the friction devices, said lfriction devices andoperating cord constituting means for moving the curtain -to fold it from one side and unfold it from the opposite `side.

The combination lof a suspended curtain; `operating means to fold the curtain from one side and unfold it from the opposite side, said means comprising a plurality of curtain rings.; friction devices connected with said rings, and an operating cord engaging said friction devices and 'adapted to move the rings 'simultaneously and be released therefrom successively.

4.. The combination of a curtain support; a `plurality of curtain 'Suspenders mounted thereon; a curtain suspended lfrom said suspenders, an operatingcord frictionally engaging all but one of said-Suspenders andadaptedv to move ythe Suspenders simultaneously and be released therefrom successively evaaie in the operation of opening and closing the curtain.

5. The combination of a pole; a plurality of curtain rings thereon; a double curtain Vsuspended from tlie rings; friction devices on the rings; an operating cord frictionally vengaging said friction devices of all but the tWo center rings, said cord being made fast to said center rings and adapted to move the Arings simultaneously and be released tliere 7 The combination of a pole; ahplurality of rings mounted thereon; a pair of curtains suspended from said rings; friction devices on said rings and an operating cord passed through and in engagement With all the;

friction devices but that on the one end ring `of one curtain, to which it is made fast,- 'said cord being ypassed freely through the rings ofthe adjacent curtain, reversed on,

itself and `then passed through the friction devices of all but the one end 'ring of that"` jcurtain, to Which it is made fast, `said cord Y being passed freely through `the rings ofthe vfirst mentioned curtain, so that/a pull onone` rend of the operating cord will cause the rings of both curtains to group in succession in opening the curtains, and a pull onthe other end of the cord Will cause the rings to yseparate in inverse succession to close the curtains.

8. The combination of a suspended currelease :them successively in the reverse direction to unfold the curtain. y

DICKRAN M. SARKIS-IAN. Witnesses:

W. P. HAMMOND, M. LAWsoN Diziiii.

tain; a plurality of suspension devices theret for; friction members on said suspension devices; and an operating cord in frictional contact with the suspension devices, 'said operating cord/adapted to moveall of the sus# pension 'devices simultaneously and release them successively to fold-the curtain and movek the suspension devices simultaneously and 

